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Maritime Security
Maritime Security
9
Note
MARITIME SECURITY
Water is the major source of life. Even though water occupies a major portion of
earth's surface, it is the geographical location and resources in it that makes them
important. We can categorise this water as oceans and seas. Ocean is a large water
body of saline water where as seas are large body of water which may or may not be
connected. Most of the seas are fully or partially enclosed by land.
Till date we have explored only five percentage of total area covered by oceans. And
today, the economic growth of countries depend on oceans because it is through these
large water bodies that trade is conducted and import and export of products, oil,
etc., are shipped.
Hence securing such activity is called maritime security. In view of its importance
nation states give lot of importance to securing the sea lanes of communication to
protect their economy, borders, protect trade routes and also to show their strength.
Objectives
After studying this lesson you will be able to:
• explain the different aspects of maritime security of our country;
• explain and assess the importance of maritime security to India and
• identify the various agencies associated with maritime security of India.
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Maritime Threats
• Illegal maritime arrivals/terrorists.
• Illegal exploitation of natural resources.
• Illegal activity in protected areas.
• Marine pollution.
• Prohibited imports and exports (Smuggling).
• Compromise to biosecurity.
• Piracy, robbery or violence at sea.
• Maritime terrorism.
• To explore, exploit, and manage its natural resource in the sea bed for economic
purposes.
• Establish rights over use of artificial islands and installations and structures for
marine scientific research.
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The maritime zone recognized under international law includes internal waters, territorial
sea, the contiguous zone, the exclusive economic zone, the continental shelf and the
high seas. Let us see them briefly here.
• Internal water: Internal waters are the waters on the landward side of the
baseline from which the distance of the territorial sea is measured. States have
full sovereignty over its internal waters. Internal waters are considered as a part Note
of land territory.
• Territorial Sea: States can claim twelve nautical miles from its baseline. The
coastal state has the authority over the territorial sea, the air space above it, and
the seabed and subsoil beneath it.
• Contiguous Zone: Each coastal state can claim a contiguous or adjacent zone.
It is beyond the territorial sea and extends seaward up to 24 nm (nautical miles)
from its baseline. In this zone coastal states can exercise customs, fiscal,
immigration or sanitary laws.
DO YOU KNOW
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Note
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Besides, there is the need to protect the resources of the ocean in a sustainable
manner. The traded goods and services are brought to land through the use of ports
that are located in different parts of the country all along the coastline. Let us learn
about them.
ACTIVITY 9.1
Locate all the major parts mentioned in section 9.4 on a blank political map of India.
DO YOU KNOW
Sagar Mala
Sagaramala is an initiative by government of India to develop and modernize ports and
coastal economic zones. It also includes costal community developmental programmes
through skill development and livelyhood generation activities like fisheries development
and coastal tourism.
Below is the list of 200 more notified ports in different parts of India.
No. State Number of Ports
1. Maharastra 48
2. Gujarat 42
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Blue Economy
Oceans not only help us in transportation of goods and services but also enable us to
use the vast resources such as oil and natural gas and other minerals besides fisheries.
Around 38 million people in the world depend on the fisheries from the oceans.
Hence, oceans provide enormous economic opportunities for the people as well. Blue
economy is the sustainable use of resources of the oceans in a way to help the coastal
community people in their economic and social development.
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Intext Questions 9.3
1. Why is maritime security important for India? Explain.
2. Explain the term 'blue economy'.
3. Name any five major ports in India.
Note
4. Explain the term Sagarmala.
DO YOU KNOW
A chokepoint refers to a point of natural congestion along two wider and important
navigable passages. Maritime choke points are naturally narrow channels of shipping
having high traffic because of their strategic locations and these can be blocked by the
navy.
More than half the world's armed conflicts are presently located in the Indian Ocean
region. Also, terrorism and piracy add to the tensions. Apart from these competition
between China and India to get supremacy in this region makes this region strategically
important.
Some of the major choke points in the Indian ocean region are -
• Strait of Horminz
• Malacca and Singapore Straits
• Sunda Strait
• Lombok Strait
• Cape of Good Hope
• Mozambique Channel
• Ombai and Wetar Straits
• Bab-el-Mandeb
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• Directorate of revenue intelligence
• Defence intelligence agency
• Directorate of navy intelligence
3) Research and Development organizations
• Indian Space Research Organisation
Note
• Defence Research & Development Organisation
• National Centre of Excellence in Technology for Internal Security
(NCETIS), IIT Bombay
4) Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI), Ministry of Home Affairs
5) Central Board of Excise & Customs, Ministry of Finance
6) National Committee for Strengthening Maritime and Coastal Security
(NCSMCS)
7) National Marine Police Training Institute (MPTI) (Planning)
8) Central Marine Police Force (Planning)
2 West Mumbai
3 East Chennai
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• From a strategic point of view India witnessed two major terrorist attacks - the
Mumbai blast and the Mumbai terror attack through sea routes.
• Besides, India is also facing challenges from China through its increasing naval
activity in the Indian Ocean and establishment of naval basis at awadar in Pakistan
etc.
• Piracy, terrorism and drug-trafficking are other major threats that arise from the Note
seas.
• Economically, the Indian Ocean is of immense strategic value as a large portion
of India's trade is conducted through the Indian Ocean. Hence it is vital to secure
the sea lanes of communication and protect the coastal regions, ports, industries
and other facilities.
• For this purpose, India has established institutions and agencies such as Coast
Guard, Indian Navy and other military agencies that provide constant support
and security.
Terminal Exercises
1. Why is maritime security important? Explain.
2. Highlight the importance of blue economy.
3. Describe the role of Coast Guard and Indian Navy in maritime security.
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